The Senior Executive Seminar (SES) is the Marshall Center’s premier platform for strategic-level dialogue among senior civilian and military leaders from the United States, Germany, and allied and partner nations. This five-day seminar fosters transatlantic collaboration and collective problem-solving on pressing global security challenges.

The 2025 iteration, titled “Transitioning to European-Led Defense: Challenges and Opportunities,” will explore how Europe can adapt its defense posture in response to evolving threats, including Russian aggression and Chinese military modernization. Participants will examine defense investment priorities, institutional reform, burden-sharing dynamics, and the role of multinational frameworks in building effective and coordinated deterrence.

The seminar also highlights practical approaches to enhancing defense readiness. Discussions focus on increasing burden-sharing through smart investments; building institutional capacity by equipping ministries with the planning systems and expertise to translate resources into operational outcomes; and advancing interoperability by ensuring Allied and partner forces can think, plan, communicate, and fight together.

SES provides a collaborative, high-level forum for senior leaders to examine how Europe and its partners can build a more credible, capable, and coordinated defense. The seminar addresses how to:

• Incentivize defense investment by aligning national priorities with NATO’s Regional Defense Plans and promoting smart, outcome-driven spending
• Modernize security architectures across NATO, the EU, and regional frameworks to meet the demands of strategic competition
• Harness technological innovation and industrial reform to generate capabilities at speed and scale
• Strengthen institutional capacity within defense ministries to translate investment into readiness and combat power
• Promote balanced burden-sharing and capability development across the alliance
• Advance combat-focused interoperability to ensure Allied and partner forces operate effectively together across all domains

The seminar combines high-level plenary sessions, breakout discussions, and small-group workshops. Sessions are led by international experts, senior defense officials, and experienced practitioners from across the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions. SES equips senior leaders with actionable strategies, deeper insight into today’s evolving security environment, and enduring professional networks that support long-term cooperation. Graduates also join the Marshall Center’s global alumni community—a trusted platform for continued collaboration on the world’s most pressing defense and security issues.

This course is intended for senior-level officials engaged in national and international security policymaking, including:

• Ministry of Defense and Foreign Affairs leaders
• NATO and EU representatives
• National Security Advisors
• Senior military commanders
• Parliamentarians and security advisors

Participants are expected to hold strategic-level responsibilities and demonstrate significant experience in defense, foreign policy, or interagency coordination.

SES is offered in English only and the required ECL is 80+ or the equivalent level ALCPT, NATO STANAG, TOEFL, CEFR or university courses.